Monogram unit



Patented Sept. 14, 1937 when MONOGRAM UNIT Michael Chernow, New York, N. Y., assignor to Service Patents Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application September 17, 1935, Serial No. 40,900

9 Claims.

My present invention relates more especially to monogram units of the type for use on. baggage, handbags, belt buckles, dress findings and in numerous other relations, and it constitutes an 57 improvement over that of my copending application Serial No. 755,669, issued March 19th, 1935,

under Patent No. 1,994,686.

The present invention accomplishes all of the objects of said patented invention including the ease and security of installation of the initials or emblems and the facility of removal thereof when required, and effects economies of construction.

Essentially the invention resides in providing the inner rim of the open metal or other substantially rigid frame holder structure with a deep cavity or groove, preferably an undercut cavity at one part or beam' thereof, in which is snugly lodged preferably a resilient rubber inset to be compressed 'by the'lug extension atone end of theinitial or ornament resiliently to urge a similar lug extension at the opposite end of the initial or ornament to be lodged in a corresponding I shallow 'groove in the opposite rim of the holder.

""In'the accompanying drawing, in' which several features of the invention,

gram frame with initials installed,

tion,

1 Fig. 3 is a view in longitudinal cross-section shown one of various possible embodiments of the Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a complete monotaken on the line 33 of Fig. 2, and on a still larger scale.

Fig. 4 is a perspective View of the frame body,

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the inverted frame cover,

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the elastic inset,

and

used.

Fig. 7 is a perspective View of one of the initials In the specific embodiment shown inthe drawrim of 'a rectangular opening l4.

face as at'l5. The lower beam I3 is made mapreferablysomewhat below the upper edge I of the thinned lower beam l3.

'terially thinner, preferably substantially throughout' its length and width and thereby determines shoulders l6 near the lower ends of the thicker lateral beams I0 .and ll, said shoulders being A strip or body ll of elastic rubber having substantially the precise contour of said thinned lower beam to extend the length and width thereof; is superposed thereover with its ends affording shoulders it to engage the shoulders l6 of the frame.

Preferably the thickness of the rubber strip ll is such that in superposed relation its face comes at least flush with the face of the frame body, but it is preferably thicker to rise somewhat thereabove'. The frame cover C, which may be made of brass and plated with gold, silver or the like, or enamel-coated or otherwise finished, comprises a frame face 2t superposed over the frame body and in face to face'engagement therewith, completely to cover and conceal the rubber strip H and the major portion of the rabbet 55. While the frame face may be secured to the. body H in any desired manner, it is preferred to provide said face with a peripheral flange 2| which snugly encloses the entire thickness of the frame body and thereby further stiffens the frame or holder structure. The cover may be secured to the body in any 7 suitable manner, but is shown with clenching tongues 22 which protrude from said flange and are turned over the back of said frame body and preferably lodged in corresponding depressions 23 to come flush with the back surface of the frame.

Thus the frame holder made up of the body H and cover C affords a unitary construction determining a rigid groove 25 in the upper beam thereof, while the edge of the rubber strip ll is exposed between the front and rear walls of the holder frame structure at the inner rim of the lower beam l3 thereof. The rubber strip ll is thus in effect an inset, securely clamped in position within the corresponding undercut cavity in the lower beam, said beam being a hollow shell, the cavity of which extends substantially the entire length and width thereof, The hollow beam is thus defined between the thinned beam l3 of the frame block, the adjacent face 2!) of the frame cover C, the flange 2| of the latter, and the shoulders [6. The lateral rims of the assembled frame are solid and the upper beam except for the rabbet is also solid.

The initial or character shown in Fig. 7 may be substantially the same as in the prior patents, and comprises a rigid metal stamping 30 with an extension or lug 3| flush with the rear wall thereof and thinner than the initial proper, the upper end of which is set off by a shoulder 32 and the identical construction is used at lug 3| at the lower end of the initial. Illustra-tively the back of the initial is shown flat and the face convex.

The initial is inserted into the frame holder by introducing the lug 3| intol contact with the edge of the rubber inset l1, pressing the same downward to cause the upper extension lug 3| to align with groove 25 in the upper beam, where upon the rubber inset I! will expand, resiliently yet firmly to urge and retain the lug 3| in groove 25, so that the character is maintained in position as best shown in Fig. 2. Preferably the thin beam [3 of the frame body is exposed at I3 beyond the edge of the rubber inset IT to afford a convenient guide for introduction of the corresponding lug 3| of the character, and the rear wall of the,

other beam l2 extends as at l2 somewhat beyond the cover edge 20 to facilitate positioning the other lug 35 in applying the initial into the frame.

When installed, it will be seen, from Fig. 2, that the edge of the rubber inset I1 is slightly depressed by each initial, for security of hold. Said inset being securely clamped throughout its face area between the two pieces 13 and 20, there is no possibility of twisting it out of its plane, but it becomes depressed merely along its width as shown in Fig. 2, to obtain the full advantage of its resilience.

Preferably as in the prior patent above identifled, the edges of the character extensions are serrated as at 35 and the transverse wall of the rabbet 55 is correspondingly serrated at 36, thereby to afford a secure lock against lateral shift of the initial along the frame opening. Corresponding serrations 31 at the other lug of the character serve correspondingly to indent the resilient rubber inset I1 and to contribute to the security of the mount.

As in said prior patent, the height of the initial proper, apart from its extension lugs 3| and 3|. is slightly less thanthe height of the frame J opening, so that when the initial is positioned with the serrations 35 and 36 meshing there is a slight gap 38 between the corresponding end of the initial and the contiguous beam edge, and a corresponding gap 39 between the other end of the initial and the contiguous beam edge. By this means there is simulated the appearance of an integral piece of metal with the initials out thereinto, the metal appearing to'be completely cut away about the entire perimeter of the characters, except at the bridges joining the upper and lower ends thereof to the frame, at which parts the metal appears to be only partly cut through.

While for most applications the rubber inset as illustratively shown is at the lower beam, it is apparent that that inset might be provided at the upper beam; In fact the latter relation is preferred in certain applications, as for instance, where the device serves as an-opening handle for a purse or bag. In such application the device is apt to be grasped at the initials and the tension applied toward the lower beam. With the resilient inset'at the upper beam such operation would not tend to remove the initial from the frame. It is of course understood that the resilient inset could beapplied at both beams if desired, although in general such relation is less advantageous. It is also clear that for certain types. of emblems or insets the lugs might be at the sides rather than at the top and bottom, the frame having corresponding lateral emblem or initial securing instrumentalities similar to those disclosed.

It is apparent that the initials or other emblems are securely held by the serrations in fixed position in the frame without need for lateral lugs on the initials to place them in physically abutting relationship as is required in certain constructions devoid of positive means to prevent lateral shiftmg.

According to tile invention it is clear that the monograins or initials may be readily put-together by hand in: the retail store, as required by the: customer, from the available stock of initials and of frames, and the characterscan be applied to the frame holder, with equal facility whether the frame be apart from the surface or article to which it is to be applied or have been previously afiixed thereto. No hammer, pliers or other tool is required in afiixing the initials or emblems in place and they are yet retained with adequate security for all practical purposes, and when it is desired to remove the same for replacement or otherwise this is effected with the utmost facility and also without resort to pliers or other tools.

The invention is not limited in its application to the rectangular frame illustratively shown, but lends itself readily for application to frames ofi various other shapes;

While the inset is preferably of rubber; it; is apparent that it may be made of other compositions having compressibility and resiliency gen erally similar to that of rubber and including; many other substances such as rubberized fabric, cork compositions, synthetic rubber and the like, which are embraced in the scope of the claims.

For removal, the initial end need merely-be. slid to compress the rubber inset l1 until lug5i3l passes out of the groove 25, whereupon. the initial is readily lifted out of the frame holder.

It will thus be seen that there is herein described an article in which the several features of this invention are embodied, and which ar-' ticle in service attains the various objects of the invention and is well suited to meet the requirements of practical use.

As many changes could be made in'the above construction, and many apparently wldely'dlfferent embodiments of this invention couldxbe made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawing shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A metal frame structure of the character described having an upper beam, a lowerbeam and lateral beams determining a rectangular opening, said beams presentinga front wall and a rear wall, the lower beam being hollow to afford thin front and rear walls and lower and lateral edges, said hollow portion extending across the width of the lateral beams of which the lower ends determine shoulders, an inset of flexible rubber substantially filling the cavity in said lower beam with the ends of said inset contacting said shoulders and the faces of saidstrip engaging the walls of said beam, the upper beam being undercut to determinea groove.

2. A metal frame holder structure of the char,- acter described having an upper beam, a lower beam and lateral beams determining a rectangular opening, said beams presenting afront wall and a rear wall, the lower beam being hollow to afford thin front and rear walls, said hollow portion extending across the width of the lateral beams of which the lower endsdetermine shoulders, an inset of flexible rubber'sub- (i stantially filling the cavity in said lower beam with the ends of said inset contacting said shoulders and the faces of said strip engaging the walls of said beam, the opposite beam being undercut to determine a groove, and rigid characters releasably retained in said'frame, one end of each of said characters having an extension lodged at the rim of the frame in the corresponding groove, the other end of each character having an extension depressing the rubber inset and resiliently retained thereby within the holder.

3. A monogram structure of the character described comprising a frame holder having an upper beam, a lower beam and lateral beams determining a rectangular opening, said beams presenting a front wall and a rear Wall, the lower beam being hollow to afford thin front and rear walls, said hollow portion extending acrossthe width of the lateral beams of which the lower ends determine shoulders, an inset of flexible rubber substantially filling the cavity in said lower beam with the ends of said strip contacting said shoulders and the faces of said strip engaging the walls of said beam, the opposite beam being undercut to determine a groove, and rigid characters releasably retained in said frame, one

,end of each of said characters having an extension lodged at the rim of the frame in the corresponding groove, the other end of each character having an extension depressing the rubber inset and resiliently retained in position thereby, said groove having a serrated transverse wall and the corresponding extension of the characters being correspondingly serrated.

4. A monogram structure of the character described comprising a frame holder having an upper beam, a lower beam and lateral beams determining a rectangular opening, said beams presenting a front wall and a rear wall, the lower beam being hollow to afford thin front and rear walls, said'hollow portion extending across the width of the lateral beams of which the lower ends determine shoulders, an inset of flexible rubber substantially filling the cavity in said lower beam with the ends of said strip contacting said shoulders and the faces of said inset engaging the walls of said beam, the opposite beam being undercut to determine a groove, and. rigid characters releasably retained in said holder, one end of each of said characters having an extension lodged at the rim of the frame within said groove, the other end of each character having an extension depressing the rubber inset, both of the extensions on said characters being serrated, the transverse Wall of the groove being correspondingly serrated, the serrations at the opposite end of said character depressing the rubber inset.

5. A monogram unit comprising a frame piece of metal, the thickness of which is materially reduced at one side along the length thereof, a strip of flexible rubber substantially filling the void determined by said reduced portion, said frame being rabbeted along the side parallel to said reduced side, and a cover frame superposed over said frame, over the rabbeted portion thereof and over said rubber strip and secured to said frame.

6. A monogram unit comprising a'frame piece of metal, the thickness of which is materially reduced at one side along the length thereof, said reduced portion determining shoulders at the contiguous unthinned portion of the frame, a strip of flexible rubber substantially filling the void determined by said reduced portion and engaging said shoulders, said frame being rabbeted along the side parallel to said reduced side, and a cover frame superposed over said frame, over the rabbeted portion thereof and over said rubber stripand secured to said frame.

7. A monogram unit comprising a rectangular 7 frame block of metal rabbeted at the inner rim of one side thereof and materially thinned along the side directly opposite said rabbeted side, a rubber strip superposed over said thinned side and extending at least flush with the face of said frame block, a frame cover superposed over said frame block and substantially covering the rabbet and the rubber strip, said frame cover rigidly secured to the frame body.

8. A monogram unit comprising a frame shaped block of metal having upright beams and connecting horizontal beams, one of said beams being rabbeted along the inner rim thereof, the opposite beam being materially thinned throughout the length thereof and determining shoulders at the contiguous portions of the vertical beams, a strip of resilient rubber superposed over said thinned beam, with its ends in contact with said shoulders and a frame cover superposed over said frame block and over the rabbet and the rubber strip and rigidly secured to said frame block;

9. A monogram unit comprising a frame shaped block of metal having upright beams and connecting horizontal beams, one of said beams being rabbeted along the inner rim thereof, the opposite beam being materially thinned throughout the length and width thereof and determining shoulders at the contiguous portions of the vertical beams, a strip of resilient rubber superposed over said thinned beam, with its ends in contact with said shoulders and a frame cover superposed over said frame block and over the rabbet and the rubber strip, said frame cover being flanged to enclose said frame block and having clenching tongues at the rim of said flanges inturned over said block.

MICHAEL CHERNOW. 

